Party line metering, including selection of the meter prior to signaling the operator



Dec. 5, 1950 c. E. LOMAX 2,532,926

PARTY LINE METERING, INCLUDING SELECTION 0F THE METER PRIOR To STGNALTNGTHE OPERATOR. Filed Feb. 14, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l F|G.| GIE" @5CLARENCE E. LOMAX ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1950 c. E. LoMAx 2,532,926

PARTY LINE METERING, INCLUDING SELECTION OF THE METER PRIOR T0 SIGNALINGTHE OPERATOR Filed Feb. 14, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENToR. C LARENGEE. LOMAX ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1950 c. E. LoMAx 2,532,926

PARTY LINE NEIERING, INCLUDING SELECTION oF THE METER PRIOR TO SIGNALINGTHE OPERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1947 24 FIG. 3 s

DISTRIBUTOR .T. U A B SY 1 `37| w c( I 300 1 alo INVENTOR. CLARENCE E.LOMAX ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1950 c E oMAx 2,532,926

PARTY LINE METERINC, .INCLUDING SELECTION OF THE METER PRIOR TOSIGNALING THE OPERATOR Filed Feb. 14, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 How) c.o. `4

CONNECTOR DIAL TONE I MULT.

TO OTH ER CONN.

METERS INVENTOR. CLARENCE E. LOMAX ATTORNEY TO METERS FOR OTHER L'NESPatented Dec. 1959 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2,532,926 PARTY LINE ,MnjrERINcaINCLUDING sn- LEcrroN orv THE METER rama fro sle- NALING THE OPERA'ORClarence E. Lomax, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Automatic ElectricLaboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Y 18Claims.

The present invention relates in general to measured service telephonesystems, and Ymore particularly to manual party lines provided withselective indication and selective registration of telephonie callsoriginating at any one subscribers station.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedarrangement for giving metering service to party line subscribers in amanual switchboard system.

A feature of the invention is to provide a cir cuit arrangement in whicha small number of meter selectors will serve a large number of lines.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a circuit arrangement,whereby, as the subscriber initiates a call, the proper meter isselected and prepared before the operator is signalled.

An additional feature is the provision of a circuit arrangement andmeans, whereby, the operator meters the call when the called subscriberanswers, using the pre-selected meter.

Another feature of the invention is that it permits the meter-selectorto be released for common use upon the call being answered, instead ofbeing held throughout the conversation.

These and other features and aspects of the invention will be pointedout and described more in detail hereinafter, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings, which show by means of the usual circuitdiagrams, suiicient of the apparatus of a manual telephone system toenable the invention to be explained and understood, wherein thedescription of the progress of a call from a party line to another andthe means for registering is made.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the line circuit for the party line, thesubscribers stations as A to D and their impulse senders, the operatorsjacks and only the portion of a universal and well known cord circuitnecessary for an operational description of the invention.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows a line finder of the Y well known Strowgertype, but containing modications therein.

Fig. 3 of the drawings shows a distributor of the type as disclosed inthe U. S. Patent No. 2,375,514 issued May 8, 1945 to Pier Bakker.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows the connector or meter-selector, metercontrol and the timer, or timer control equipment, and two meter banksfor separate party lines.

Fig. 5 shows how Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive should be arranged.

Figs. 2 and 4 (with the exception of the timer) are actually one unitand must be permanently associated even though they perform separate vfunctions.

2 it is to be understood that the circuit need notI be limted to such.The drawings have been made.

Q to -show that the meter selector and its equip- I' ment may serveadditional party lines and regis ter their calls on other meter banks. Apluralityv of calls initiated from a plurality of party lines. can berecorded simultaneously. .f

The timer of Fig. 4 is a single unit which is usedby all of theFig. .2and Fig. 4 equipments. Its;

purpose is to position and prepare the equipmentY for metering at thecorrect time, to send a plurale. ity of meter pulses and then to releasethe iinder.

rafter metering has been completed. The timer.

is so constructed as to consist of a stack of con'- stantly rotatingcams. As illustrated .in the drawing, the cam contact makers such as Plto- PB are staggered consecutively around the, tim;.

y ers periphery. The cams are rotated at a con.

stant speed and the contact makers are so spaced that there is adefinite time interval between pulses. PI. prepares the circuit formetering.` With P2 through P5 each corresponding to sube. scriberstations A through D on any four-party. line,v a single pulse istransmitted from each of, the contact makers, but at different timeintervals. after the operation of PI. P6 releases the nder. from thecalling line after the completion of mee, tering and is the last of thatseries of actuated.; contact makers.

The impulse sender as illustrated at themanf. ual telephone, and usedfor selecting the station.y meter, Vis of the type as disclosed inPatent 2,463,717 issued to Theodore C. Riebe on Marchl 8, 1949. Theimpulsers located at each station, transmit a different number of pulsescorrespond-,- ing to that stations predetermined identification signal.o It will be noted .that the meters used are special, y in that eachmeter has two coil cores and are of the shunt-held construction. Theshunt field arg, rangement is used because matched pulses are.. used formetering and the shunt eld arrange, ment permitsI fewer conductors to beused for; metering. The meters assigned to one party Aline have theirnumber I coils commoned, i. e., they may either be connected in seriesor parallel.; The A subscribers of each party line have their,y number 2coils commoned, the B subscribers have their number 2 coils commoned,etc. The num-y,

all the number 2 coils of the meter causes too,-v

heavy a load on the contacts of the timer, the

common may be broken and additional contacts,

installed.

The inventan, 100th as' to its @geringeren-..-

method of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, will best be understood by Lreference to the specificationtaken in connection with `the accompanying drawings. The handling of acall from its initiation to its completion will be discussed in theensuing operational description.

As a subscriber at either of stations A to D rcmoves the receiver, aloop circuit is closed over line IIJ and a circuit is completed throughthe winding of line relay |23. Line relay |20, at contacts |2| preparesa circuit for relay H0'. v.Atcontacts |22 a battery potential is appliedto the sleeve of the call jack to mark thisline busy. At contacts |23 itprepares an additional ground potential for the winding of relay |38,and at .contacts |24 a ground potential is applied to vertical bankconductor 22 :andto the iil'thcontact 2| ofV ver. tical Ybanlrset 23.Contacts |24 also energize distributorstart relay 32D, in which thecircuit may be `,traced from ground at contacts |24, through closedcontacts hill, vertical bank yconductor 22, resistor 23, conductor 2li,vcontacts 332 and through the winding of relay 32 to vbattery. Startrelay 323 now closes contacts 32|, completing the .circuit for controlrelay 31|). The circuit forrelay 313 may be traced `from ground at.contact 356, through ,contacts 346 .and 32 the winding of relay 313,`contacts `38| and 3i i, and through the winding of `magnet 3| tobattery. The windings of magnet 3H] and relay :318 vare connected .inseries, .but the `resistance of vthe winding of V318 is high `ascompared with that of-.magnet f3 ll, and accordingly, this magnetdoesnot .operate when energized in ,the circuit .just traced. Inoperating,.control relay 310 closes its contacts l31| 'to completeanobvious multiple circuit for energizing the all-trunks-busy relay 33.3.At contacts 312, an operatingcircuit isprepared for the .Vertical magnet253 of the Strowgerswitching .mechanismeinbodied in the iinder. .At itscontacts 313, anoperating .circuit is completed for nder start relay233, athis circuit extending from ground by way of contacts313 towiper.32 and its engaged contact, conductor ST., and the'winding ofrelay 23|) to battery. At'its icontacts'314, the relay 31u-opens a point.in .one .of theoperating circuits for themagnet Y3| D. At its contacts'315, the relay ..318 :prepares .an alternative voperating circuit forthis magnet. V.At .its contacts 316,1the'relay 31|) prepares anoperating circuit for the verticaltest relay 341and a locking circuitfor the pulsing relay 338. At itsfcontacts-311, the relay 310 completesacircuit for energizing the winding of the `timing relay 538i), thiscircuit extending Jfrom ground by way of contacts 311, contacts 354, andthe windingof relay 388- to battery. At its contacts i318, the relay 318prepares a locking circuit orzitself.

l-The timing relay 388, upon operating, moves its `armature 38| anditscontacts 382 and ".333 to-complete an obvious circuit throughthecontacts 311 for energizing the slow-to-operate relay 390. The relay 398now operates and locks-to ground over a path including its contacts331i, contact 382, the armature 38| and thecontacts 311. At its contacts335, the relay 358completes the prepared locking circuit for thefcontrolrelay 310, this circuit extending from groundby way of contacts 395 and318, the winding of lrelay 310, the contacts 33| and 3H, and thewindingof magnet 3|!) to battery. SAt its contacts v333, the relay 390 preparesa locking circuit for vrthe vertical test'relay`340. At its `contacts392;the

`relay 333.

lthis relay exceedingly relay 393 opens a point in one of the availableoperating circuits ior the magnet Sit. At its contacts 39|, the relay393 completes a circuit for energizing the upper winding of controlrelay 358' in parallel with the upper winding oi' the It will be notedthat the portion o this circuit which includes the upper winding o relay335 also serially includes the current limiting resistor The currenttraversing this portion of the circuit is insuicient to cause theoperation of the relay 33d, but serves to render ast to operate when itslower .winding is subsequently energized.

The relay 353, upon operating, locks to ground over a path including itscontacts and contacts 313. At its contacts 353, the relay 353 furtherprepares the locking circuit for the vertical test relay 343. At itscontacts 35i, the relay 350 prepares a circuit for energizing the lowerwinding of the rotary test relay 333. At its-contacts 355, the relay 355completes a multiple locking circuit for the control relay 31S, thiscircuit extending from ground by way of vcontacts 355, contacts 318, thewinding or" control relay-31B, the contacts 333i, contacts 3H andthewinding of magnet 3|@ to battery. At its lcontacts 353, the relay 353opens the ypreviously traced operating circuit for the relay `313. :Atits contacts 351i, the relay 333 opens the abovetraced circuit forenergizing the winding oi the timing relay 333. When this winding isthus'deenergized, the weighted armature 331 is released and starts tovibrate through itsneutral position between two extreme positions,wherein, the contacts 332 and 383 are respectively engaged'jthereby.Each .time the armature .353i engages onelof its two associated contacts332 and 333, the locl ing circuit for the relay 338 is completed. Due

to its slow-to-release characteristics, this relay remains in itsoperated position until such time as the amplitude of vibration of thearmature 38a' is decreased suiciently to prevent the .engagement thereofwith either of the two contacts 382 and 383. lThus a timing interval ismeasured through operation of the timing relay 333. During this intervalthe two relays 33t' and '358 Vare held operated so that the operation ofthe finder to seize the calling line I8 may proceed.

When the finder start relay 2331s energized 1in the above-tracedcircuit, operation or" theiinder to Search -or the calling line i@ isinitiated. 'En operating, this relay closes its contacts '23E 'to bridgethe resistor 213 'across the link negative and positive conductors andthus cause the Aenergization and operat on of the line relaysfe and G2G,this circuit extending from vground through the winding of relay 323,.contact 23|, resistor 215i, and the winding or" relay |33 to battery.At its contacts 133i, the relay 336 cornpletes the circuit for relaydie, this circuit extending from ground .at contacts 133i vthrough thewinding of relay H3 to battery. At its contacts di i, the relayT ditprepares its own holding circuit. At its contacts V55|?, the relay'lliapplies a ground potential to the 'C conductor. -At

its contacts M3, the relay H3 `opens the circuit' for releasemagnet Atits contacts ffii- =a circuit is prepared for relays A183 andfd'li. 'Atits contacts 5 a circuit is prepared for rel-ay 44@ and magnet 433. Atits contacts SIS, vthe relayv 4|@ prepares a circuit for transmission ofdial tone to the calling subscriber. At 'its-contacts42l, the relay 523further prepares the circuit for relay M3 and magnet 133.

Continuing with the operation of relay 230,

saidre'lay at its contacts 231 applies a' ground potential fromconductor C to conductor'TI. At its contacts 232, the relay 233 preparesa circuit for switch through relay 266. At its contacts 234, the relay236 prepares a holding circuit for relay 200. At its contacts 235, therelay 230 prepares a circuit for rotary magnet 260.

At the same time that relays 406 and 420 were energizing, the operatingcircuit of vertical magnet 250 was completed at contacts 236, of relay230, this circuit extending from ground at contacts 312, contacts 33|,34|, wiper 3B and its engaged contact 35, contacts 236 and the Windingof magnet 256 to battery. When energized in this circuit, the magnet 250elevates its wipers to a position opposite the first level of bankcontacts in the associated contact iield, and closes its contacts tocomplete the prepared operating circuit for thepulsing relay 336. Thiscircuit extends from ground by way of the contacts 25|, interrupter leadINT, and the winding of relay 330 to battery. Incident to the verticalofi-normal movement of the wipers, the off-normal springs 25 are closed,completing the circuit to relay 220 in an obvious manner. In operating,the relay 330 opens its contacts 33| to deenergize the magnet 250. Inreleasing, magnet 250 opens its contacts 25| to deenergize relay 330.The relay 330, upon restoring closes its contacts 33| to again energizemagnet 250. In reoperating, magnet 25|! elevates its Wipers again andcloses its contacts 25| to reenergize relay 330. The inter-actionbetween the magnet 250 and relay 330 continues until its wiper 26 iselevated to a position opposite the marked level of contacts such as 2|in the associated contact eld such as 20.

In operating, at its contacts 22 I, the relay 220 opens theall-trunks-busy circuit ATB individual to the illustrated link andconstituting one of the branch circuits over which the all-links-busyrelay 30|] is energized. At its contacts 222, the relay 22|] prepares anadditional ground potential to the G conductor. At its contacts 223, the

relay 220 prepares a circuit for release magnet When wiper 26 engagesmarked contact 2| and when magnet 250 disconnects ground from the INTconductor, a circuit is immediately cornpleted for energizing the upperwinding of the vertical test relay 340 in series with the winding of therelay 333, this circuit extending from ground by way of contacts |24 and|44, conductor 22, contact 2|, wiper 26, contacts 231, conductor Tl,Wiper 33 and its engaged contact 38, contacts 343, the upper winding ofrelay 343, the contacts 316 and the winding of relay 33|! to battery.The current traversing this circuit is suicient to maintain the pulsingrelay 330 in its operated position, whereby further operation of themagnet 266 is prevented, and to cause the operation of the vertical testrelay 340.

It will be noted that during the vertical movement of the nder wipers, acircuit including the resistor 23 and one of the resistors I, 2, 3 or 4,etc., is repeatedly completed for energizing the relay 330 and the upperwinding of relay 346 in series. This circuit is initially completedincident to the first vertical step of the finder wipers and extendsfrom ground by way of contacts |24, and |44, conductor 22, resistors 23and in series, the engaged first contact of contact s et 2|] and wiper26, contacts 231, conductor Tl, the wiper 33 and engaged contact 38,contacts 343, the upper winding of relay 340. contacts 31e and thewinding of relay 33o te battery. it,

is' altered successively to include the resistors 2, 3 and 4 in serieswith the resistor 23 incident to the second, third and fourth verticalsteps of the nder wipers. The current traversing this circuit is,however, insuiiicient to causethe operation of the vertical test relay340 or to prevent the release of the pulsing relay 330.

The vertical test relay 340, upon operating, rst locks up in a circuitwhich includes its lower winding, its preliminary make contacts 345, thecontacts 393, contacts 353 and contacts 311. After this locking circuitis completed, the relay 340 opens its contacts 34| to interrupt thevabove-traced operating circuit for the vertical magnet 250, and closesits contacts 342 to prepare the operating circuit for the rotary magnet260. At its contacts 343, the relay 34|] interrupts the above-tracedcircuit for energizing its own upper winding in series with the windingof the pulsing relay 330, whereby the latter relay is deenergized. Atits contacts 344, the relay 346 further prepares the operating circuitfor the rotary test relay 360.

The pulsing relay 330, upon restoring, closes its contacts 33| tocomplete the prepared operating circuit for the rotary magnet 260, thiscirrotate the wiper 26 out of engagement with the contact 2|. Uponoperating, the magnet 260 also closes its contacts 26| to complete thepreviously traced operating circuit for the p'ulsing relay 330. Therelay 330 now operates and opens its contacts 33| to deenergize themagnet 260. This magnet, in restoring, opens its contact 26| todeenergize the relay 330. The inter-related operation of the magnet 260and relay 330 continues until the finder wipers are rotated to engagethe contacts at which the conductors of the calling line |0 areterminated. It will be understood that the wipers are rotated one stepeach time the rotary magnet 26|) is energized.

The rotary movement of the wipers is arrested when the nder test wiperat finder test conductor C is operated to engage the contact terminatingthe line test conductor C of the calling line. At this time the abovementioned circuit for energizing the lower winding of the rotary testrelay 366 is completed, this circuit extending from ground by way of thelower winding of relay 366, contacts 35|, 344, wiper 33 and its engagedcontact 38, conductor Tl, contact 231, finder test conductor C andfinder test wiper, contact |42, |2|, and the winding of relay ||0 tobattery. When energized in this circuit the relay 360 immediatelyoperates and opens its contacts 36| to interrupt the above-tracedoperating circuit for the rotary magnet 260, whereby rotary movement ofthe wipers is arrested. At its contacts 363, the relay 360 completes anobvious circuit for energizing the operating magnet of the peg countmeter 339, whereby the call is registered by this meter in the usualmanner. At its contacts 362 the relay 360 prepares the operating circuitfor the switch-through relay 200. Shortly following the operation of therotary test relay 360 to perform the functions described above, thepulsing relay 330 restores and closes its contacts 33| to complete theprepared operatthe relay Mil.

assesses i'g' circuit `for 'thesw-itch through Arelay 200,'.this circuitextending from ground by way of .the contacts 3'|2, 33|, 342, 362,wiper'3| and its engaged contact 36, conductor F-l, contacts 232 and thewinding of relay .26S to battery.

In'operating, the `relay yZlli locks to ground by way-of two channels,one being through .its contacts 209, conductor C 'and `contacts 4|2, theother being through its Vcontacts 209, 'and contacts 234. At itscontacts V2825 and 201 the relay 2GB extends the calling loop circuit tothe connector portion of the circuit in an obvious manner. -At y'its`contacts 2H, the relay 200 connects the guar'dc'onductor G to-ground byway of contacts 222, anda circuit -is completed for energizing magnet310, this circuit extending from ground by'way of contacts 222, v2|conductor G, wiper 313 and its engaged contact 39, contacts 315 and thewinding of magnet i'i to battery. At

its :contacts 2|2, the relay 269 opens a point in f the operatingcircuit for the release magnet 2&0. At its 'contacts 22'3, :the relay 2Mopens a point in 'the operating circuit for the rotary magnet 260. Atits contacts 2&6, the relay 2510 applies a ground potential on the Cconductor of the line Circuit and completes the circuit for energizingout ofi relay lift, Athis circuit extending from ground at contacts 234to contacts 266, or from ground lat contacts 4t2 to contacts 2%, then,from 'contacts 2%6, finder test wiper, contacts |112, contacts |21 andthrough the winding or" relay to battery. At its contacts 2te', therelay 2&0 vprepares an operating circuit for lighting "the operators'signal lamp. At its contacts 204, the relay 2W prepares an operatingcircuit for the marginal relay itt by way of the sleeve conductor. Atitscontacts 293, the relay prepares an energizing circuit for thevnumber one parallel connected winding oi the meters associated with thecalling line. At its contacts 262, the Vrelay '2530 prepares anoperating circuit for At its contacts 20|, the relay Z preparesVafhololing circuit for the relay 4H).

In operating, :the relay ii closes its contacts ||l3 and thus maintainsits own operating circuit in preparation to the subsequentdeenergization of fline krela-y |29. Atits contacts H4, the relay .HtAmaintains a battery potential on the sleeveconductor to the call `iack,in preparation to the subsequent deenergization oi relay |20. Atitscontacts H5, the relay V| l prepares a circuit iol-relay it. Atcontacts il@ and ||2, the relay I||I opens the circuit to line relay|20.

-At thesametirne that .relay iil operates, niagnet 3|-Gbecomesloperati-ve and opens its contacts 3H, thereby opening thecircuit to deenergize relay 316. relay li isfdeenergized -it removes theground potential `from start conductor 272 at contacts |215, and opensthe'circnit to `deenergize relay 32E?. Relay als, Vupon 'deenergizingremoves ground from the conductor lat its contacts 3'3,r.whic`h opens:the circuit to relays 2&5 and 353-. .As-'relay 37d: is .deenergized itopens theicircuit for nfiagnet3|t`at its contacts N5, and upondeenergization, Vthe magnet Slt advances the wipers of the v`linkselecting sti/itch one step, :ir-"until theY distributor has found anidle link.

Referring again to relays lil-'i3 and `it has been previouslysta'tedthat the operation ci relay H5 prepareda-v circuit for applying dialtone to the 'positive conductor ofltheseizedlink, and that the operationofre'lay completed' the conneci tion to lthe subscribers line.Therefore, as the dial'tonei'bec'omes :audible to-thecallingparty, it

8. is fan 'indication fthalt the .impulse` 'sender :may .b operated.

Assuming that 'the impulse sender to be V'opa erate'd, is designed totransmit only ione impulse and the subscriber is located at station A,the following 'operation -will be more vreadily .under-Y stood. As theimpulse sender is operated,Y .the shuntrsp'rings such-'as I|2 opens-theline loop fand grounds the negative line, "the pulse Ysprings such asinterrupt Ythe negative Lline and a pulse vfollows, `causing the relays49e land 420 to -be deenergized momentarily. The relay AUB, `duringdeenergization, opens its contacts 46| fand Vcloses its ccntactsEGZ.At-itscontacts 49 ,the relay 400 opens the lcircuit of relay y110, 'butdu'e to its slow-torelease characteristics this relay tends to tainitself inilts operative position. At its e'ts 4t2, "the'rla'y itprepares fan operative circ it :for the relay 54S and stepping `magnet'48D of Vthe minor .switch. The'relay 2125,- during :dee energization,closes its contacts 42| and completes the circuits to relay Mill andmagnet 480, secireuits 4extending Ifrom ground a`t-coifltacts Je...through contacts M5, 42|, `v'-lil and throughthe winding of relay MS tobattery, and through the winding of magnet 480 to battery, respectively.At its contacts 44|, the relay Ml] maintains an open circuit for thevrelay 439. The stepping magnet ittici lthe minor switch, rotates itswipers yone Ystep and 'deen'ergizes leaving its "per :on the number IContact. At -t-he same e the `magnet i189 closes its'ofE-normal springsto ground, thus preparing a circuit for relay Relays "lite and '132B-have again energized after operation of the impulse sender atsub-station A, and relay Mit has dee'nergized. lpon deenergization, therelay 1351.8 completes vthe circuit to relay '233B through its closedcontacts "44| in an obvious mannen En operating, the relay 43S opens its'contacts and disconnects ldial tone from r'the sub- 'f bers line. Atits contacts |134, the relay 430 further opens the circuit toA relay 450and magnet it At its contacts 433, the relay 43`lre-j 'the ground fromthe already open ATBv conductor, and applied ground to the guard con-vductor G for busyirig the finder. At vits contacts the relay liti!VI'Jrepares a circuit for the release magnet 45D. At its contacts 43|,'the relay completes the vcircuit causing the operators signal lamp tolight, this circuit extending from ground 'by way of contacts I153|, thelink `lamp conductor, 4Contact 235, finder lamp conductor and iinderwiper, contacts |32, and'la'rnpl ilarnent to battery.

Upon receiving `the Vlamp signal, the operator plugs into the answer:jaclf: Ato answer the call. As hereinbeiore mentioned, ythe -cordcircuit is universal and its'operation Iis well known, there-Y fore itsVoperation only as to operation of Ythe meter will lbe discussed. AAsthe vplug is inserted into the answer jack, an energizing-circuit-iscornpleted for relays rand -|6, thiscircuit extendfingir-om ground atrelay |50, through its "Winding, the sleeve-conductor, tlre'sl'eeveoftheanswer' jack, the sleeve fof the plug, contacts 15|, andy through-the'winding-ef'r'elay |68 to battery. At itscontacts |61, the relayliet prepares'an operatl' ing circuit for the relay |'5iL -Atits'contacts |01 and 152, `the relay |590' disconnects the -line 't0from thev finder and connector and opens thecircuits-to relays 4|!0fand420 which rest'o'r'e.` Thel release :of lrelays 43E and Q23 are Withouteffect aittlli's time. At its contacts l3f,.lthe relay Il l completesthe operating circuitior'thefrel'ay |30,

lrelays winding. '|50 completes a circuit for applying 48 volts thiscircuit extending from ground at its contacts |03, through contacts andthe winding of relay to battery. At its contacts |34, the relay |30prepares its own holding circuit, At its contacts |33, the relay |30prepares a holding circuit for the relay |40. At its contacts |32, therelay |30 opens the lamp circuit, and at its contacts |3I, the relay |30completes a holding circuit i'or the slow to release relay 4|0 in anobvious manner.

The call may now be metered by kone of two methods, depending on whethera magneto or common battery line is being called. If a magneto line isbeing called the talk key is closed, preparing the energizing circuitfor the relay |50 at contacts |35. At the time the called party answers,the meter key for applying a ground potential at contacts is closed,thereby completing the energizing circuit to relay in an obvious manner.lIf a common battery line is being called, the ring cut-off relay |10operates when the called party answers and a ground potential is appliedat contacts |1| to complete the energizing circuit for relay |50 in anobvious manner.

The lower winding of marginal relay 400 is constructed so as to beinoperative with the application of 24 volts. In operating', the relay|50 completes a holding circuit for the relay |50 at its contacts |53,this circuit extending from ground at contacts |53 and through thewinding of relay |50 to battery. As the resistance of resistor |65 isgreater than that of the winding of relay |60, the circuit is completedthrough the A1; its contacts E52, the relay booster battery to thesleeve conductor and thereby energize relay 460, this circuit extendingby way of ground through the lower winding of r'elay 400, the linksleeve conductor, contacts 204,

the nder wiper, the sleeve conductor of the line circuit, sleeve of thejack, sleeve of the answer jack, the sleeve of the plug, contacts |52,resistor |55 and to booster battery. At its contacts |5|,

the relay |50 removes 24 voltibattery from the sleeve conductor andopens the original circuit of relay now held operated over contacts Inoperating its contacts 40 i the relay 460 completes its own lockingcircuit, which extends by way of ground at contacts filfl, contacts 45|and the upper winding of relay 450 to battery. It will be noted thatrelay |50 has deenergized, as it has only been momentarily energized bymomentary operation of relay |10 or the meter key, such operation beinglong enough to energize the lower winding of relay 450, thereby causingit to operate, while vat its contacts |5|, the relay |50 'restores 24volt battery to the sleeve conductor. At itscontacts 462, the relay 450prepares a circuit for the relay 410 which is ineffective until thetimer cam Pi reaches a predetermined position. v

As the contact maker PI of the constantly rotating timer closes itscontacts 490 at the beginning of a cyclic operation. an operatingcircuit 'is Vcompleted to the relay 410, extending by way of ground at44 through contacts 400, conductor 42, contacts 452, 414 and the winding`of relay 410 to battery. l

In operating, the relay 410 closes its contacts 412 and completes itsown locking circuit, which extends byway of ground at contacts 4|4,contacts 412 and the winding of relay 410 to battery. At itscontacts47|, the relay 410 prepares rassociated with the calling line.

the circuit for the energization of all the number parallel connectedcoils of the meters A to D After an' interval, contact maker P2 of thetimer closes its contacts 49| and 492 and completes simultaneouscircuits to the number coils of all the meters associated with thecalling line, and to the number 2 coils of all A meters respectively,thereby causing the A meter associated with the calling line toregister. rlhe first circuit extending by way of ground at 44, contact49|, to contact l of the minor switch, wiper 40, contacts 41|, meterconductor, contacts 203, nnder wiper, meter conductor and the numberwindings of meters A to D to battery. The second circuit extending byway of ground at 44, contacts 492, conductor Ml and through the number 2coils of all the A meters to battery.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that coils of meters A,B, C and D associated with the calling line have been energized over themeter lead individual to the calling line and that simultaneouslytherewith, coils 2 of all meters A of all lines have also beenenergized. Since the meters are of theV shunt-lield type, it thereforetakes the simultaneous energization of both windings to operate themeters. In `this case, since the meter A of the calling line is the onlymeter having both its number and number 2 coils energized, meter Ais,'therefore, the only meter which is operated.

As the timer continues to advance7 the cams P3, P4 and P5 operate theirrespective contacts without effect at this time since no circuit iscompleted through contacts 2, 3 or 4 at the minor switch. However,circuitsV are completed lover conductors M2, M3 and M4 in sequence forenergizing the number 2 coils of the meters, but since no circuits aresimultaneously completed for the number coils of such meters, no meteroperations take place.

The timer inV Fig. 4 is common to a number vof lnder-connector links,such as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and it may happen that during any onecyclic operation of the timer two-or more calls could be metered, eachsuch call being metered thru a different iinder-connector link andtheparticular meters operated being dependent upon the position of theminor switch wiper 40 in such links, such wipers 40 selecting the time,as determined by cams P2, P3, P4 and P5, when the matched meteringpulses are to simultaneously operate both coils of the shunt fieldmeters. Y

At its contacts 413, the relay 410 prepares an operating circuit for therelay |40. When the contact maker of cam P5 closes its contacts 499 atthe end of this cyclic operation of the timer, an energizing circuit iscompleted for the relay |40, this circuit extending by way of ground'at44, contacts 499, 413, C. O. link conductor, contacts 202, iinder wiper,C. O. line circuit conductor, contact |46 and the winding of relay |40to battery. At its contacts |44, the relay |40 opens the circuit of thetest lead 22. At its contacts |143, the relay |40 completes its ownlocking circuit in an obvious manner. At its contacts |42, the relay |40opens the circuit to relay |0. At its contacts |4I, the relay |40 opensthe holding 'circuit to relay 4I0. The relay 4| 0 restores contacts 4|4and opens the locking circuits of relays 460 and 410, therebydeenergizing them. The relay 410 restores contacts 4|2 and opens theholding circuit of relay 200, thus deenergizing it. Upondeenergization'of relay 4|0, its contacts 4|3 close to complete anenergizing circuit forl the release "inagnet 450, which extends by'wayof'ground at contacts M3, 632 and the windingv of' magnet 450 "tobattery. The release magnet 450 restores the l`'miiior'switcl'i wiper 40and its-ot-normalV contacts '44, thereby opening the circuit todeenergize the -relay 430.

The relay restores its contacts 432 to open the circuit and deenergizethe magnet Upon restoring, the relayl 200 restores' its contacts 2|2 tocomplete an energizing circuit 'for the nder release magnet 7.40, whichextends by the way of ground at the contacts 230, 223, 212 and thewinding of magnet 240 to battery. Thel magnet 240 restores the finderwipers and its off-normal contacts 25, thereby opening the circuit todeenergize the relay 220.

and deenergize the magnet 240.

'I'he metering equipment comprising the finderfc'onnector link in Figs.2 and 4 is now released andl may be used on subsequent calls,

Afterthe completion of the call and when the subscribers replace theirreceivers, the operator withdraws the plugs of' the cord circuit,thereby opening the circuits of relays |60 and |00. Upon 'deenergi'zingthe relay |00 restores and connects the line l0 t0 its-line relay E20 atcontacts l0! and |02, so that future calls by the subscribers may becompleted. The relay |00 restores its contacts |03Y and opens thecircuit to deenergize lthe relay |30, which at its contacts |33Y opensthe locking circuit of relay |40 which likewise-restores.

The entire system is at rest and in a normal position of readinessv forthe completion of fu- 'ture calls.

The call ,iack has been shown to illustrate the circuit of an incomingcall to one of the subscribers A to D. The operatorV plugs into thecalll jack, completing the circuit to energize the relay |00, whichextends by way of ground at relay |00, through its winding, contacts|22, H4,

'sleeve of jack and sleeve of plug and thro-ugh the winding-of a relaysuch as. 60 to battery.

The-operation of relay |00 at this time disconnects line relay |20 atcontacts |0| and |02 to prevent a finder-connector link, such as Shown-i'n Figs. 2 and 4, from being operated and connected with the calledline asv it is not desired to charge the called subscriber with anincoming call'.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will beunderstood that various modifications rmay be made therein which J'arewithin the true spirit and' scope of the in- 'vention.

each of said stations, a switching device for i" locating said line whencalling, means responsive to the initiation of a call bv a station onsaid linefor operating said switching device to connect' withV saidline, means responsive to the Q subsequent operation of said impulsesender for selecting said calling stations individual meter,

and means responsive to the selection of said meter for signalling saidoperators position.

2. In a manual telephone system, a plurality of manual party lines, aplurality of stations The relay '2120 restores its contacts 223 to openthe circuit on each line, an individual identification impulse sender ateach of' said stations for identification purposes only, a iinder switchoperated responsivev te the initiation of a callv by one of`,saidstations for nnding and connecting` with the calling party line, circuitmeansv controlled' responsive to thev manualv operation of saidindividual impulse sender at said calling. station for transmitting anidentification signal' corresponding to said calling station to saidoperated nder switch, an operators position, a plurality of signals atsaid operators position and eachbeing individual toa diferent one ofsaidY lines; and other circuit means associated with said. iinder switchcompleted only inresponsev tothe receipt of.` said identifying signal.for operating said signal individual to said calling linev at' saidoperators position to; inform. the operator thercat that a call has beeninitiated' over: said line..4

3; In. a telephone. system, an4 operators position, a. plurality ofparty lines.. terminating thereat, a plurality of cord circuits thereatadapted to be. connected to said lines, for answeringv calls thereover,a.A plurality of. subscriber stations. connected to each of said lines,an individual meter for" each of; said stations associated with saidlines, switching apparatus. common to said lines, means. responsive tothe initiationr of a call on one, of said lines for operating saidapparatus to find the. calling line andv connect therewith, means forvtransmitting? ar station identification signal. from the callingstation, means. in said apparatus responsive. tothe receipt. of.` saidstation. identification signal for selecting the calling stations?individual meter, means responsive to4 the selection of the callingstationsfmeter for signalling said cperators position. toV answer saidcalling line, and means responsive to said answering, and-.to theoperation of! one. of said cord circuitsV for.` preparing-Y anenergizing circuit to said callingstations meter.

4; In a. telephone. system, a plurality of party lines-f each having aplurality of stations thereon, a. meter for each station, a rst and asecond winding for each meter, a plurality of metering circuitscomprising an individual meter conductor foreach said partyY line and aplurality of common meter conductors, each individual meter conductorconnected to therst windings of allr meters individual to thecorresponding party line, the first of said` common meter conductorsconnected to the second windings of all meters corresponding tov the rststations on said lines and the respectiveA remainingv common meterconductors similarly'connected. to the second windings of the stationmeters corresponding respectively to the second, third andl fourthstations on said lines, a plurality of switching devices operated to ndsaid lines when calling and to connect with the individual metervconductors corresponding tothe calling lines, a timing device forsequentially. activating said common meter conductors to energize thesecond windings ofl said meters and. for simultaneously therewithactivating the individual: meter conductors connected through saidswitching devices. to energize the first' windings of the meters of thecallinglines, and means for operating only those meters having theirfirst and second windings simultaneously energized.

5. In a telephone system, aparty line having a plurality of stationsthereon, a meter for each station, a plurality of meter conductors eachcorresponding-to astation on said line and each connected to: acorresponding station meter, a

13 l line conductor individual to said line connected toall said meters,common metering apparatus, means responsive to a calling one of saidstations initiating a call for operating said apparatus to nd saidcalling line and to connect with said line conductor, means controlledby the calling station for transmitting a station identication signal tosaid connected apparatus, timing means having successive predeterminedtime intervals corresponding, respectively, to each of said stations onsaid line, means in said timing means operated during each saidpredetermined interval for activating the corresponding meter conductorto thereby sequentially activate said meter conductors, means in saidapparatus responsive to the receipt of said identi- 'fication signal forselecting a particular one of `said predetermined intervalscorresponding to said calling station, means for activating said lineconductor during said selected predetermined interval, and meansresponsive to the yactivation of said meter conductor corresponding tothe calling station and the simultaneous activation of said lineconductor during said selected predetermined interval for operating themeter corresponding to said calling station.

6. In a telephone system, a party line having a plurality of stationsthereon, a meter for each station, a plurality of meter conductors eachcorresponding to a station on said line and each connected to acorresponding one of said meters, a line conductor individual to saidline connected to all said meters, means for sequentially activatingsaid meter conductors at predetermined timed intervals, means foractivating said line conductor at a corresponding one of saidpredetermined timed intervals dependent upon ,which one of said stationsinitiates a call, and

means responsive to the activation of one of said meter conductors andthe simultaneous activation of said line conductor for operating onlythe corresponding meter.

` '7. In a telephone system, an exchange, a party 'line having aplurality of stations thereon terminating at said exchange, ashunt-field meter for each station and located in said exchange, a iirstand a second winding for each meter, a common conductor connected to allsaid iirst windings of said meters, a plurality of individual conductorseach being individually connected to said second windings of saidmeters, means for energizing said windings over said conductors, andmeans for operating said meters only in case both said nrst and secondwindings are simultaneously energized in opposing directions.

fourth stations on said party lines; means for ff completing a pluralityof talking connections between calling ones of said stations and calledones of said stations after a start period and during a cycle operationof said timer, means responsive to said timer reaching its start periodin its next cycle operation for preparingthe metering circuits of allcalling stations having established a talking connection during saidpreceding cycle operation of said timer, means -responsive to said timerreaching its first-staltion meter 'period for completing the preparedestablished talking connections to operate such first station meters,means responsive to said timer reaching its second station meter periodfor completing the prepared metering circuits of all second stationmeters individual to said calling stations included in said establishedtalking connections to operate such second station meters, meansresponsive to said timer reaching its third station meter period forcompleting the prepared metering circuits of all third meters individualto said calling stations included in said established talkingconnections to operate such third station meters, means responsive tosaid timer reaching its fourth-station meter period for completing theprepared metering circuits of all fourth station meters individual tosaid calling stations included in said established v talking connectionsto operate such fourth station meters, and means responsive to saidtimer reaching its release period for releasing said prepared meteringcircuits to prevent meter operations thereover on subsequent cycleoperations of said timer.

9. In a telephone system, a plurality of subscribers' lines, a meteringcircuit individual to each of said lines, a plurality of switchingdevices, means responsive to the initiation of a call on any one ci saidlines for automatically operating any idle one of said switching devicest0 find the calling line, subscriber controlled means for preparing theindividual metering circuit'of said calling line, a timing means commonto said switching devices, means in said timing means and in saidoperated switching device 'for further preparing said calling linesindividual metering circuit, means in said timing means i, forthereafter transmitting a metering pulse to said calling linesindividual metering circuit to register such call, means in said timingmeans operative shortly after transmission of said metering pulse totransmit a release pulse, and means responsive to said release pulseforreleasing said operated switching device.

l0. In a telephone system, a plurality of party lines, a plurality ofstations on each of said lines, a switching device common to said linesoperated responsive to the initiation of a call by a calling station onone of said lines for nding said calling line, a meter individual toeach of said stations, means for selecting the meter individual to thecallin(T stations, means for thereafter completing a talking connectionbetween said calling station and a called one of said stations, meansfcr operating said selected meter when the talking connection betweensaid calling and called stations is completed to register the call, andmeans automatically effective shortly after said registration forreleasing said switching device and'said selecting means for common useby other calling ones of said stations while said talking connectionbetween said calling and called stations is maintained.

11. In a manual telephone system, a manual party line, a plurality ofstations on said line, a called line, a switching device operated inresponse to a station on said party line initiating a call to saidcalled line for iinding and connecting with said calling line, animpulse sender at said calling station for transmitting an identiicationsignal to said connected switching device, a meter individual to eachstation, means in said switching device-operated in response to saidsignal for selecting the meter individual to 4 saidcalling station., anoperatons posi-tion and manual. equipment ior` thereafterV completing atalking connectionA from saidcalling station to said calledv line;meansfor operatingA said selected meter when said talkingl connection iscompleted, and means; automatically eective shortly after said meteroperationV for` releasing saidswitching device and said'v selectingmeans from, said: calling line while maintaining said talking;connectionY between said calling station and said called line.

12;, Ina manual telephone system, a plurality of, manual party lines, aplurality ofv stations on each'` of said lines, an operatorspositionincluding means for; completing: connections between said.stations, a meter individual to each station, meter selecting equipmentcommon to said lines, means individual to a calling one of said stationsmanually operated subsequent tov theV initiation of' a, call by saidcallingV stations'Y for operating said selecting equipment to select themeter individuall to the calling station, andk means in-4 cluding acircuit completed onlyin` response to said selection of said callingstations individual meter ior signalling said operators position toindicate said initiated call to the selection of the calling stationsindividual meter.

13. In a manual telephone system, a plurality of' manual party lines,amanual jack terminating each of said' lines, ar VisualV signal at each.of` said jacks, a plurality or stations on eachy of said party lines,van individual identification impulsesender at; each of said stations foridentication purposes4 only, a iinder switch operated responsive to theinitiation of a call by one of said stations for nding and connectingwith the: calling party line, circuit means controlled responsive tothe, manual operation of said individual impulse sender at said callingstation forl transmittingr an identication signal corresponding to saidcalling, station to said operated nder switch, anoperators position, andother circuit means associated with said finderv switch completed onlyin response to the receipt of said identifying signal for operating oneor said visual signals to` inform the operator at said operatorsposition that a call has been initiated vonA the party line individualto saidy jack and said operated visual signal.

14. Inia telephone system, a plurality of subscribers lines, a meterindividual to each line, metering equipment commonV to said linesoperated' in response to theV initiation, of a call by one of; saidAlines for selecting theV meter individual to said calling line,` meansfor'simultaneously transmitting; pairsl of matched pulses, and means foroperating said selected meter by one oll said pairs of. matched.lpulses',v one of said 'pulses` being individual to said; line and theother of said pulses beingV common to said lines.

15. In a telephone system, a plurality of. subscribers lines, a. meter;individual to each line, a meter conductor individual to each line andconnected to the corresponding meter, metering equipment: common to saidlines operated in response; to the initiation` of a call on a callingone of said lines; for selecting and connecting withthermeter conductorindividual to said Calling line, a common meter conductor connected to,all said meters, and means for simultaneously transnfltting. matchedpulses over said selected individual meter con-ductorQ77 and: over said'come mon meterV Conductor tor operate only said meter individual to saidcalling line..

16.V In a telephone system, a plurality of party lines, a` plurality oistations onY each of said lines, a meter individual to each station, aline winding and a station winding in each, meter, corresponding stationwindings of said meters being connected toreach other and the linewindings of said meters individualv to eachi line being connected toeach other, and means foroperating only the calling stations individualmeter by a pair of matched pulses over the calling stations line andstation windings, one of. said pulses being individual toA said line ofthe calling station for energizing the line windingsindividual to theline of the calling station and the other pulse being common to stationscorresponding to said calling station for energizing the stationwindings. corresponding to the calling station.

17. In aV telephone system, a plurality of party lines, a plurality ofstations on each of said.

lines, a. meter individual to each station, a line winding and a stationwinding in each metena line meter' conductor vindividual to eachv line,a plurality of station meter conductors corresponding in number to thelnumber of stationsV on any one of said lines, correspondingv stationwindings of said meters beingl connected to the corresponding station-Vmeter conductor and the line windings of said meters individual toeachline being connected to the corresponding line meter conductor, meansfor selecting4 the line meter conductor and the station meter conductorcorresponding to a calling` one of said lines` and thecalling station onsaid calling line, and means for simultaneously transmitting matchedpulses over said selected line and station meter conductors tosimultaneously energizefthe linewinciing and the station winding of themeter individual tosaid calling station to thereby operate only thecalling. stations individual meter.

18. In a telephone system, a plurality of party lines, a rst and asecond station on each of said party lines, a meter individual. to eachstation, a line meter conductor individual to each line and connected tothe first and second station meters of such line, a rst common meterconductor common to allV said iirst station meters, a second commonmeter conductor common to all said second station meters, meteringequipment common to said lines operated in response to the initiation ofa call by a station on one of said lines for selecting said meterconductor individual to said calling line and for selecting said nrstcommon meter conductor in case said calling station is the first stationor for selecting said second common meter" conductor in case saidcalling station is the second station, and means for simultaneouslytransmittingv matched pulses over said selected individual and commonmeterv conductors to operate only the meter individual to said callingstation.

CLARENCE E., LOMAX..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATESA PATENTS Number Name DateI 1,337,740 Williams et al Apr.20,192.0 1,387,171l Polinkowsky Aug. 9, 1921 1,799,654 Stokely Apr. 71931 1,823,588 Hovland Sept. 1.5 193,1 1,852,746 Gooderham Apr. 5, 19322,222,099 Zapf Nov. 19, 1940 2,277,802 Thies et al. Mar..3,l19,422,319,424 Maloney May 18,l 19,43 2,410,520 Ostline Nov'.I 5, 19 4 6

